I was talking to the neighbor the other day and he informed me he had termites.
For a home owner, that is like saying your home has cancer. Or some other wasting disease.
Everyone I talked to mentioned that, "termites are like roaches, If your neighbor has them, so will you".
So I called our exterminator. And he called his exterminator (he doesn't do the termite thing, only "pests". WTF are termites? FRIENDS???).
Anyway, a different guy does the flying buzz-saws. And HE called. We talked for a bit, then he said he would stop by and do an inspection. PHEW! I felt better all ready.
Wayne (the termite guy) showed up promptly at 4. We got the formalities out of the way, then he started talking my ear off. It was a good talk though. We discussed everything there was to know about the soil-ridden pirana. And everything "I" was doing, as far as looking for them, and keeping the "ideal settings" away. (During all this, we made about 6 laps around the house, all while I got a "guided tour" on what to look for and where.)
By the time he left, we had a clean bill of house health (no bugs), he clarified all the misconceptions I had about the beasties, and gave me a (more exact) tutorial on what to look for, how to look for it, and what to do to prevent them. I felt WAY better. And he didn't charge me for the visit. WAY COOL. (BTW, he does work for a national pest control chain. Most of them won't spit on your property without charging you for the chemicals. And, he didn't charge.)
I am glad, and relieved, we were clear. And he was impressed that I knew almost everything there was to look for.
Guess I have to put the safari hat back in the closet. Suits me. I really don't like having to pull it out unless I have to. Too stressful.
Also, did you know termites are like the "flies" of the soil? They are out there. Whether you have a "problem" with them or not, is up to how you handle things around the house. I never thought about it until he was telling me. It makes sense though.
Scares happen.
You need to give us some advise or let us know who to call. Tiff decided not to shut down the minddiversion site right now so we are still up!
Posted by: Brooke | April 29, 2005 at 10:10 AM
How come you didn't tell *us* what to look for?
Think you could send Wayne over for a house call? I might make it worth his while (well if he isn't funny looking anyway).
Posted by: Heathen | April 29, 2005 at 07:36 PM
I have a picture of you in your safari get-up, posing with an elephant gun over a mound of termites. Would have been a great picture (but not so good for the house, I'm thinking).
Posted by: bogie | April 30, 2005 at 05:08 AM
Let me clarify that: I don't actually have such a picture, I picture it in my mind (or what's left of it anyway).
Posted by: bogie | April 30, 2005 at 05:09 AM
"Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know." Groucho Marx
Or as CK would say, "I'm getting a visual...and it ain't pretty."
I think a pith helmet would be more appropriate for that picture. Unfortunately, I don't own one.
"It's BWANA time." Wonder if a beer co. would pick up that idea?
Posted by: Wichi Dude | April 30, 2005 at 12:18 PM